DRB Prospect Review: #22 Joe Rock

21.10.2024 16:00

DRays Bay

Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Joe Rock proved himself to be a durable starting pitcher

Over the offseason, the Draybay community takes part in an exercise in which we compile a list of 30 prospects in the Rays system based on popular vote.

Now that the 2024 season has concluded, we can look back at these rankings and see how each individual player performed.

We have already covered

We resume the reviews at #22.

22. Joe Rock

At the close of spring training earlier this year, the Rays sent off former first rounder Greg Jones to the Colorado Rockies for Joe Rock. The Rockies had selected Rock with the 68th overall selection of the 2021 draft. During his few seasons in the Rockies organization, Rock showcased that he could be a dependable starting pitcher over a full season, albeit without dazzling results. In short, Rock gets the job done.

Before the Season

23 | 6’6” | 200

AA | 4.50 ERA, 90.0 IP (19 GS) 27.3 K%, 8.1 BB%

AAA | 3 ER, 2.2 IP (1 GS) 4 K, 2 BB

As a cold weather, late bloomer at Ohio University (with a no-hitter on his resume) Rock was drafted 68th overall by the Rockies in 2021, and traded to the Rays this off-season for former first rounder SS/OF Greg Jones. Rock has the look of a starting pitcher, with a good body and fluid delivery, and solid extension thanks to his 6’6” build, although there are some quirks. He throws from a low-slot that gives shades of Chris Sale, but with a high elbow in the wind up that could spell trouble for his arm health. There’s some deception to his delivery, but it’s not something relied upon, as his slider and change up can do the work. In shorter stints his fastball is up to 96, and the look is unique for hitters to face, so it’s easy to see a major league projection here.

How it Went

Over the course of the season, Joe Rock showed glimpses of his potential. He strung together a 10 game stretch early in the season where he compiled a 2.19 ERA over 49 ¹⁄₃ IP. However, a blowup was always around the corner. That being said, Rock showed himself once again to be a durable hurler, finishing the season with the 4th most IP among Rays minor leaguers. Rock also capped the season on a bright note as he registered consecutive seven inning appearances and notched his most strikeouts in a game during his final start.

Final 2024 Statline
AAA: 4.58 ERA | 4.14 FIP | 21.6 K% | 5.7 BB% | .281 | 13.5 WHIFF% | 139 ²⁄₃ IP